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Abstract Background Fatigue is a relatively prevalent condition among hemodialysis patients, resulting in diminished health-related quality of life and decreased survival rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between fatigue and body composition in hemodialysis patients. Methods This cross-sectional study included 92 patients in total. Fatigue was measured by Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACIT-F) (cut-off ≤ 34). Body composition was measured based on quantitative computed tomography (QCT), parameters including skeletal muscle index (SMI), intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), and bone mineral density (BMD). Handgrip strength was also collected. To explore the relationship between fatigue and body composition parameters, we conducted correlation analyses and binary logistic regression. Results The prevalence of fatigue was 37% (n = 34), abnormal bone density was 43.4% (n = 40). There was a positive correlation between handgrip strength and FACIT-F score (r = 0.448, p

Abstract Robot joints are the main structure for controlling the motion of the machine body, where the motion state of them directly affects the performance of the industrial robot. Due to the difficulty of obtaining the joint torque information of industrial robots, it is very hard to monitor the motion state of them. Based on the velocity and force driven by current of motors, we propose a novel Bayesian optimization framework to predict the joint motion state of industrial robot in this paper. Based on the temporal correlation of joint current and the correlation between the current and motion state of joint, we use the LSTM and BiLSTM to regressing prediction of the current and state of joint motor first. Then, the Bayesian optimization method is used to adjust the hyperparameters of our network, which realize the analysis of the joint motor current under different motion states and improve the accuracy of the prediction of joint motion states. Finally, we design the joint current acquisition platform of industrial robot based on Hall current sensors, which can collect joint currents without contact and generate experimental dataset. Comparing with the popular intelligent methods, the results show that our Bayesian optimization framework realizes a more accurate prediction of motion state for the four-axis industrial robot on the basis of contact-less current acquisition.

Abstract Skeletal muscle is the largest metabolic organ of the human body. Maintaining the best quality control and functional integrity of mitochondria is essential for the health of skeletal muscle. However, mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and mitophagy disruption can lead to varying degrees of muscle atrophy, but the underlying mechanism of action is still unclear. Although mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy are two different mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, a large amount of evidence has indicated that they are interrelated and mutually regulated. The former maintains the balance of the mitochondrial network, eliminates damaged or aged mitochondria, and enables cells to survive normally. The latter degrades damaged or aged mitochondria through the lysosomal pathway, ensuring cellular functional health and metabolic homeostasis. Skeletal muscle atrophy is considered an urgent global health issue. Understanding and gaining knowledge about muscle atrophy caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly focusing on mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial autophagy, can greatly contribute to the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy. In this review, we critically summarize the recent research progress on mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in skeletal muscle atrophy, and expound on the intrinsic molecular mechanism of skeletal muscle atrophy caused by mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy. Importantly, we emphasize the potential of targeting mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy as therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy, including pharmacological treatment and exercise therapy, and summarize effective methods for the treatment of skeletal muscle atrophy.

Abstract Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease induced by the complex interactions between the host immune system and the microbiota of dental plaque. Oxidative stress and the inflammatory microenvironment resulting from periodontitis are among the primary factors contributing to the progression of the disease. Additionally, the presence of dental plaque microbiota plays a significant role in affecting the condition. Consequently, treatment strategies for periodontitis should be multi-faceted. In this study, a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug delivery system was developed by structurally modifying hyaluronic acid (HA) with phenylboronic acid pinacol ester (PBAP). Curcumin (CUR) was encapsulated in this drug delivery system to form curcumin-loaded nanoparticles (HA@CUR NPs). The release results indicate that CUR can be rapidly released in a ROS environment to reach the concentration required for treatment. In terms of uptake, HA can effectively enhance cellular uptake of NPs because it specifically recognizes CD44 expressed by normal cells. Moreover, HA@CUR NPs not only retained the antimicrobial efficacy of CUR, but also exhibited more pronounced anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress functions both in vivo and in vitro. This provides a good potential drug delivery system for the treatment of periodontitis, and could offer valuable insights for dental therapeutics targeting periodontal diseases.

Abstract Background Oral cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck, and 90% of cases are oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Chemotherapy is an important component of comprehensive treatment for OSCC. However, the clinical treatment effect of chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin (DOX), is limited due to the lack of tumor targeting and rapid clearance by the immune system. Thus, based on the tumor-targeting and immune evasion abilities of macrophages, macrophage membrane-encapsulated poly(methyl vinyl ether alt maleic anhydride)-phenylboronic acid-doxorubicin nanoparticles (MM@PMVEMA-PBA-DOX NPs), briefly as MM@DOX NPs, were designed to target OSCC. The boronate ester bonds between PBA and DOX responded to the low pH value in the tumor microenvironment, selectively releasing the loaded DOX. Results The results showed that MM@DOX NPs exhibited uniform particle size and typical core-shell structure. As the pH decreased from 7.4 to 5.5, drug release increased from 14 to 21%. The in vitro targeting ability, immune evasion ability, and cytotoxicity of MM@DOX NPs were verified in HN6 and SCC15 cell lines. Compared to free DOX, flow cytometry and fluorescence images demonstrated higher uptake of MM@DOX NPs by tumor cells and lower uptake by macrophages. Cell toxicity and live/dead staining experiments showed that MM@DOX NPs exhibited stronger in vitro antitumor effects than free DOX. The targeting and therapeutic effects were further confirmed in vivo. Based on in vivo biodistribution of the nanoparticles, the accumulation of MM@DOX NPs at the tumor site was increased. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrated a longer half-life of 9.26 h for MM@DOX NPs compared to 1.94 h for free DOX. Moreover, MM@DOX NPs exhibited stronger tumor suppression effects in HN6 tumor-bearing mice and good biocompatibility. Conclusions Therefore, MM@DOX NPs is a safe and efficient therapeutic platform for OSCC.

In light of the limited efficacy of conventional methods for identifying pavement cracks and the absence of comprehensive depth and location data in two-dimensional photographs, this study presents an intelligent strategy for extracting road cracks. This methodology involves the integration of laser point cloud data obtained from a vehicle-mounted system and a panoramic sequence of images. The study employs a vehicle-mounted LiDAR measurement system to acquire laser point cloud and panoramic sequence image data simultaneously. A convolutional neural network is utilized to extract cracks from the panoramic sequence image. The extracted sequence image is then aligned with the laser point cloud, enabling the assignment of RGB information to the vehicle-mounted three dimensional (3D) point cloud and location information to the two dimensional (2D) panoramic image. Additionally, a threshold value is set based on the crack elevation change to extract the aligned roadway point cloud. The three-dimensional data pertaining to the cracks can be acquired. The experimental findings demonstrate that the use of convolutional neural networks has yielded noteworthy outcomes in the extraction of road cracks. The utilization of point cloud and image alignment techniques enables the extraction of precise location data pertaining to road cracks. This approach exhibits superior accuracy when compared to conventional methods. Moreover, it facilitates rapid and accurate identification and localization of road cracks, thereby playing a crucial role in ensuring road maintenance and traffic safety. Consequently, this technique finds extensive application in the domains of intelligent transportation and urbanization development. The technology exhibits significant promise for use in the domains of intelligent transportation and city development.

The biomass raw material magnolol with a biphenyl structure was used to synthesize bio-based epoxy resin, and flexible polyetheramine curing agents(D230, D400, D2000 and T403) were used to cure the bio-based epoxy anti-erosion coating. The effects of polyetheramine molecular weight and functionality on the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and anti-erosion protection performance of magnolol epoxy resin were explored, and the anti-erosion mechanism of magnolol epoxy coatings was proposed. Results showed that the magnolol epoxy coating cured with D230 maintained a high impedance value(1.25×1011 Ω·cm2) after 15 d of immersion in 3.5%(mass fraction) NaCl solution. The coating cured with T403 possessed a high tensile strength(26.59 MPa), low friction coefficient(0.373) and wear rate [0.018 3 mm3/(N·m)], while the magnolol epoxy coating cured with D2000 exhibited lower mass loss(244.74 mg) and volume loss(157 mm3) in the erosion test. Under the coupled erosion of solid/liquid/gas three-phase flow, the longer flexible segment of D2000 endowed the magnolol epoxy coating with better elasticity and flexibility, and therefore reduced the impact of the erosion medium, thus showing excellent anti-erosion performance.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that plays a critical role in the immune system and can be found in various tissues, including joints. Research on the relationship between OA and macrophages is essential to understand the mechanisms underlying the development and progression of OA. Objective: This study was performed to analyze the functions of the IRF1-GCN5-SETD2-SMARCC1 axis in osteoarthritis (OA) development. Methods: A single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset, was subjected to a comprehensive analysis aiming to identify potential regulators implicated in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In order to investigate the role of IRF1 and SMARCC1, knockdown experiments were conducted in both OA-induced rats and interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated chondrocytes, followed by the assessment of OA-like symptoms, secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and polarization of macrophages. Furthermore, the study delved into the identification of aberrant epigenetic modifications and functional enzymes responsible for the regulation of SMARCC1 by IRF1. To evaluate the clinical significance of the factors under scrutiny, a cohort comprising 13 patients diagnosed with OA and 7 fracture patients without OA was included in the analysis. Results: IRF1 was found to exert regulatory control over the expression of SMARCC1, thus playing a significant role in the development of osteoarthritis (OA). The knockdown of either IRF1 or SMARCC1 disrupted the pro-inflammatory effects induced by IL-1β in chondrocytes, leading to a mitigation of OA-like symptoms, including inflammatory infiltration, cartilage degradation, and tissue injury, in rat models. Additionally, this intervention resulted in a reduction in the predominance of M1 macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. Significant epigenetic modifications, such as abundant H3K27ac and H3K4me3 marks, were observed near the SMARCC1 promoter and 10 kb upstream region. These modifications were attributed to the recruitment of GCN5 and SETD2, which are functional enzymes responsible for these modifications. Remarkably, the overexpression of either GCN5 or SETD2 restored SMARCC1 expression in rat cartilages or chondrocytes, consequently exacerbating the OA-like symptoms. Conclusion: This research postulates that the transcriptional activity of SMARCC1 can be influenced by IRF1 through the recruitment of GCN5 and SETD2, consequently regulating the H3K27ac and H3K4me3 modifications in close proximity to the SMARCC1 promoter and 10 kb upstream region. These modifications, in turn, facilitate the M1 skewing of macrophages and contribute to the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). The Translational Potential of this Article: The study demonstrated that the regulation of SMARCC1 by IRF1 plays a crucial role in the development of OA. Knocking down either IRF1 or SMARCC1 disrupted the pro-inflammatory effects induced by IL-1β in chondrocytes, leading to a mitigation of OA-like symptoms in rat models. These symptoms included inflammatory infiltration, cartilage degradation, and tissue injury. These findings suggest that targeting the IRF1-SMARCC1 regulatory axis, as well as the associated epigenetic modifications, could potentially be a novel approach in the development of OA therapies, offering new opportunities for disease management and improved patient outcomes.

Abstract Body size has historically been considered the primary source of difference in the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) between children aged greater than or equal to 2 years and adults. The contribution of age‐associated differences (e.g., ontogeny) beyond body‐size differences in the pediatric PKs of mAbs has not been comprehensively evaluated. In this study, the population PK of two mAbs (nivolumab and ipilimumab) in pediatric oncology patients were characterized. The effects of age‐related covariates on nivolumab or ipilimumab PKs were assessed using data from 13 and 10 clinical studies, respectively, across multiple tumor types, including melanoma, lymphoma, central nervous system tumors (CNSTs), and other solid tumors. Clearance was lower in pediatric patients (aged 1–17 years) with solid tumors or CNST than in adults after adjusting for other covariates, including the effect of body size. In contrast, clearance was similar in pediatric patients with lymphoma to that in adults with lymphoma. The pediatric effects characterized have increased the accuracy of the predictions of the model, facilitating its use in subsequent exposure comparisons between pediatric and adult patients, as well as for exposure–response analyses to inform pediatric dosing. This study approach may be applicable to the optimization of pediatric dosing of other mAbs and possibly other biologics.

Weak shear bond strength (SBS) has always been a challenge for clinical bonding of 3mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP). With the development of additive manufacturing technology, vat photopolymerization (VPP) is an alternative that allows zirconia to form precise complex structures and achieve bionic structure molding based on the natural advantages of different organisms in relation to biological structure, microstructure, and mechanical behavior. As report goes, the toe structure of tree frog can effectively achieve friction enhancement on humid and flooded surfaces. In this paper, we present a new type of 3Y-TZP material loaded with tree-frog bionic structures via VPP additive manufacturing to improve SBS between resin cement and 3Y-TZP for clinical requirements. And flexural strength, finite element analysis and accuracy analysis of bio-inspired 3Y-TZP is carried out to verify its feasibility of clinical application. The SBS of the bio-inspired group with 250 μm width and 250 μm height reached a maximum of 22.7 ± 1.3 MPa before hydrothermal aging, the flexural strength of the bio-inspired group with 250 μm width and 150 μm height decreased the least, reaching 825 ± 30 MPa, and the accuracy analysis of the central-incisor veneer restoration loaded with the bionic structures showed that the average deviation value was 0.033 ± 0.036 mm. This study has found that these bionic structures can effectively improve the SBS of the interface between zirconia and resin cement, while flexural strength and accuracy can also meet requirements of clinical dental application.

Predicting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is important for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving pegylated interferon-alfa (Peg-IFN) therapy. We aimed to determine the predictive value of serum hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) for HBsAg clearance. A total of 189 HBeAg-negative CHB patients who received Peg-IFN based therapy were retrospectively included and classified into two groups: nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) add-on Peg-IFN group (add-on group, n = 94) and Peg-IFN combined with NAs or Peg-IFN monotherapy group (combination or monotherapy group, n = 95). After 48 weeks of treatment, 27.5% (52/189) and 15.9% (30/189) of patients achieved HBsAg clearance and seroconversion, respectively. Patients in the combination or monotherapy group tended to achieve relatively higher HBsAg clearance (31.6% vs. 23.4%, p = 0.208) and seroconversion (21.1% vs. 10.6%, p = 0.050) rates than those in the add-on group. In combination or monotherapy group, anti-HBc levels at week 12 were lower in patients with HBsAg clearance (9.0 S/CO vs. 9.9 S/CO, p

Introduction RESLES (Reversible splenial lesion syndrome) can be observed secondary to various diseases, and intramyelinic edema may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of SCC (Splenium of the corpus callosum). Some studies have suggested that hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy may constitute a risk factor for SCC lesions. However, the potential impact of high-altitude environments on SCC, especially during chronic exposure, remain obscure.Methods Our study included 19 patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteria of RESLES at high altitudes. Ten low-altitude patients with RESLES were included as controls. All participants received MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) scans twice. Routine blood tests, liver, kidney and thyroid function, coagulation function, electrolytes and vitamins were detected during hospitalization and before discharge. In addition, the patients were followed up in May 2023.Results Hypoxic environments at high altitudes may increase the risk of RESLES. The two groups showed different clinical symptoms. High-altitude patients had significantly higher CRP levels than low-altitude patients. The lesion size in high-altitude patients showed a positive correlation with SaO2 levels. However, the patients at low altitudes had positive correlation trends between lesion size and several inflammatory markers (WBC, NEU and CRP). All patients had a benign prognosis that may not be affected by the use of prednisone acetate.Conclusions Hypoxic environments at high altitudes may play a role in the aetiology of RESLES. Additionally, RESLES is a reversible disease and the administration of glucocorticoids may be dispensable for its treatment.

ABSTRACTSerum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level < 100 IU/ml and undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA have been recently proposed as an alternate endpoint of “partial cure” in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We investigated clinical outcomes of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB patients with HBsAg

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a common technique in cardiac surgery but is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI), which carries considerable morbidity and mortality. In this review, we explore the range and definition of CPB-associated AKI and discuss the possible impact of different disease recognition methods on research outcomes. Furthermore, we introduce the specialized equipment and procedural intricacies associated with CPB surgeries. Based on recent research, we discuss the potential pathogenesis of AKI that may result from CPB, including compromised perfusion and oxygenation, inflammatory activation, oxidative stress, coagulopathy, hemolysis, and endothelial damage. Finally, we explore current interventions aimed at preventing and attenuating renal impairment related to CPB, and presenting these measures from three perspectives: (1) avoiding CPB to eliminate the fundamental impact on renal function; (2) optimizing CPB by adjusting equipment parameters, optimizing surgical procedures, or using improved materials to mitigate kidney damage; (3) employing pharmacological or interventional measures targeting pathogenic factors.

BackgroundThe intricate relationship among gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and immunophenotypes may significantly impact myocarditis. However, direct causal links between these domains and myocarditis are not well understood.MethodsThe study performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genetic data from public sources. Exposure data included 211 gut microbiota, 486 serum metabolites, and 731 immunophenotypes from Mibiogen, the Metabolomics GWAS server, and GWAS catalog databases. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as instrumental variables based on established criteria. Myocarditis data from GWAS (427,911 participants, 24, 180, 570 SNPs) were used as the outcome variable. MR analysis was conducted using Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), with Cochran’s Q test for heterogeneity and Egger’s intercept to assess horizontal pleiotropy.Results9 gut microbiota, 10 serum metabolites, and 2 immunophenotypes were negatively associated with myocarditis risk. In contrast, 5 gut microbiota, 12 serum metabolites, and 7 immunophenotypes were positively associated with myocarditis risk (all, P < 0.05). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of these results.ConclusionThis MR study suggests that gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and immunophenotypes may causally influence myocarditis risk. These findings provide genetic evidence for myocarditis etiology and could inform future precision prevention and treatment strategies.

C-reactive protein (CRP) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of the non-specific acute phase response in humans. In contrast, rat CRP (rCRP) is an atypical acute-phase protein that possesses unique features, such as a possible incapacity to trigger the complement system and markedly elevated baseline plasma concentrations. To facilitate in vitro studies on these unique characteristics, obtaining high-quality pure rCRP is essential. Here we explored various strategies for rCRP purification, including direct isolation from rat plasma and recombinant expression in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Our study optimized the recombinant expression system to enhance the secretion and purification efficiency of rCRP. Compared to traditional purification methods, we present a streamlined and effective approach for the expression and purification of rCRP in the Pichia pastoris system. This refined methodology offers significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of rCRP purification, thereby facilitating further structural and functional studies on rCRP.

Background and aimsThe role of dietary factors in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—which represents a new definition of liver steatosis and metabolic dysfunction— remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationships between dietary indices and MASLD.MethodsWe analyzed data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 cycle, including 4,690 participants with complete vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) data. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates were used to assess the association between dietary indices, MASLD, and MASLD-associated liver fibrosis (MASLD-LF). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models and subgroup analyses were also performed.ResultsThe Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Index (DASHI), and Mediterranean Diet Index (MEDI) were found to be negatively associated with MASLD risk, while the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) had a positive association. The highest quartile of MEDI was linked to a 44% reduction in MASLD risk [Q1 vs. Q4 odds ratio (OR): 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34–0.94, P for trend: 0.012]. DASHI was uniquely associated with a reduced risk of MASLD-LF (continuous OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64–0.97; p for trend: 0.003). Our RCS curves indicated a nonlinear association with DASHI-MASLD (p-overall: 0.0001, p-nonlinear: 0.0066). Subgroup analyses showed robust associations among the non-Hispanic White and highly educated populations.ConclusionSpecific dietary patterns were associated with reduced risks of MASLD and MASLD-LF. The DASHI, in particular, showed a significant protective effect against MASLD-LF. These findings suggest potential dietary interventions for managing MASLD and MASLD-LF, although large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings.

In the growing season of 2021, a severe drought occurred in Central Asia impacting various local ecosystems and socio-economic conditions. However, there is limited research on the spatiotemporal characteristics of this drought and its effects on local vegetation. To address this gap, this study utilizes the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) to quantitatively evaluate the spatiotemporal drought characteristics, and standardized anomalies to assess drought impacts on vegetation greenness and productivity. The drought-induced reduction in vegetation greenness and production was also decomposed into environmental drivers based on a random forest model. Our findings can be summarized as follows: During the 2021 growing season, Central Asia experienced one of the most severe drought events in the past 40 years, with approximately 42.57 % of the region facing record-breaking drought conditions. Abnormally low precipitation (PRE), prolonged high temperatures (TMP) and evapotranspiration also occurred during the drought event. The drought had a significant detrimental effect on vegetation, leading to an approximately 10 % reduction in vegetation greenness and around 13 % in productivity. Soil moisture (SM) was found to be the most critical factor influencing vegetation greenness loss during drought conditions. Leaf Area Index (LAI) and SM emerged as the primary drivers for the reduction of Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Solar-Induced Fluorescence (SIF). The antecedent environmental conditions had a significant impact on the decline in vegetation greenness and productivity during the 2021 drought event, accounting for approximately 30 %–35 % and 52–69 % of the respective losses. The findings of this study highlight the importance of taking into account antecedent climate factors when studying the impacts of drought on vegetation.

Background With the increasing survival rate of smaller newborns and twins, previous growth curves may not accurately assess the growth of extremely preterm infants (EPIs). Our study aimed to establish birth weight percentile curves for singletons and twins in EPIs from China and the USA and compare the differences between them.Methods In China, EPIs were from 31 provinces, from 2010 to 2021. The collected information was sex, gestational age, birth weight, singletons and twins. We used the generalised additive models for location scale and shape method to construct the birth weight percentile curves by gestational age and sex for EPIs. The National Vital Statistics System database from 2016 to 2021 was also analysed. We compared the differences between the 50th birth weight percentile curves of the two databases.Results We identified 8768 neonates in China (5536 singletons and 3232 twins) and 121 933 neonates in the USA (97 329 singletons and 24 604 twins). We established the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th birth weight reference curves for China and the USA. The results showed that males had higher birth weights than females. In China, for the same gestational age and sex, birth weights in singletons and twins were found to be similar, though singleton males born in China had slightly higher birth weights than male twins. In the USA, birth weights were also similar for females and males, with the same gestational age in singletons and twins.Conclusion We established birth weight reference percentile curves by gestational age and sex for singletons and twins among EPIs in China and the USA.

IntroductionBacterial resistance presents a major challenge to both the ecological environment and human well-being, with persistence playing a key role. Multiple studies were recently undertaken to examine the factors influencing the formation of persisters and the underlying process, with a primary focus on Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria). Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is capable of causing a variety of infectious diseases, but there have been few studies of E. faecalis persisters. Previous studies have shown that the sex pheromone cCF10 secreted by E. faecalis induces conjugative plasmid transfer. However, whether the pheromone cCF10 regulates the persistence of E. faecalis has not been investigated.MethodsAs a result, we investigated the effect and potential molecular mechanism of pheromone cCF10 in regulating the formation of persisters in E. faecalis OG1RF using a persistent bacteria model.Results and discussionThe metabolically active E. faecalis OG1RF reached a persistence state and temporarily tolerated lethal antibiotic concentrations after 8 h of levofloxacin hydrochloride (20 mg/mL) exposure, exhibiting a persistence rate of 0.109 %. During the growth of E. faecalis OG1RF, biofilm formation was a critical factor contributing to antibiotic persistence, whereas 10 ng/mL cCF10 blocked persister cell formation. Notably, cCF10 mediated the antibiotic persistence of E. faecalis OG1RF via regulating metabolic activity rather than suppressing biofilm formation. The addition of cCF10 stimulated the Opp system and entered bacterial cells, inhibiting (p)ppGpp accumulation, thus maintaining the metabolically active state of bacteria and reducing persister cell generation. These findings offer valuable insights into the formation, as well as the control mechanism of E. faecalis persisters.

Microvascular invasion (MVI) is an adverse prognostic indicator of tumor recurrence after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, developing a nomogram for estimating the presence of MVI before liver resection is necessary. We retrospectively included 260 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC at the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2021 and April 2024. The patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 182) for nomogram development, and a validation cohort (n = 78) to confirm the performance of the model (7:3 ratio). Significant clinical variables associated with MVI were then incorporated into the predictive nomogram using both univariate and multivariate logistic analyses. The predictive performance of the nomogram was assessed based on its discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility. Serum carnosine dipeptidase 1 ([CNDP1] OR 2.973; 95 % CI 1.167–7.575; p = 0.022), cirrhosis (OR 8.911; 95 % CI 1.922–41.318; p = 0.005), multiple tumors (OR 4.095; 95 % CI 1.374–12.205; p = 0.011), and tumor diameter ≥3 cm (OR 4.408; 95 % CI 1.780–10.919; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of MVI. Performance of the nomogram based on serum CNDP1, cirrhosis, number of tumors and tumor diameter was achieved with a concordance index of 0.833 (95 % CI 0.771–0.894) and 0.821 (95 % CI 0.720–0.922) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. It fitted well in the calibration curves, and the decision curve analysis further confirmed its clinical usefulness. The nomogram, incorporating significant clinical variables and imaging features, successfully predicted the personalized risk of MVI in HCC preoperatively.

IntroductionWalking plays a crucial role in promoting physical activity among older adults. Understanding how the built environment influences older adults’ walking behavior is vital for promoting physical activity and healthy aging. Among voluminous literature investigating the environmental correlates of walking behaviors of older adults, few have focused on walking duration across different age groups and life stages, let alone examined the potential nonlinearities and thresholds of the built environment.MethodsThis study employs travel diary from Zhongshan, China and the gradient boosting decision trees (GBDT) approach to disentangle the age and retirement status differences in the nonlinear and threshold effects of the built environment on older adults’ walking duration.ResultsThe results showed built environment attributes collectively contribute 57.37% for predicting older adults’ walking duration, with a higher predicting power for the old-old (70+ years) or the retired. The most influencing built environment attribute for the young-old (60–70 years) is bus stop density, whereas the relative importance of population density, bus stop density, and accessibility to green space or commercial facilities is close for the old-old. The retired tend to walk longer in denser-populated neighborhoods with better bus service, but the non-retired are more active in walking in mixed-developed environments with accessible commercial facilities. The thresholds of bus stop density to encourage walking among the young-old is 7.8 counts/km2, comparing to 6 counts/km2 among the old-old. Regarding the green space accessibility, the effective range for the non-retired (4 to 30%) is smaller than that of the retired (12 to 45%).DiscussionOverall, the findings provide nuanced and diverse interventions for creating walking-friendly neighborhoods to promote walking across different sub-groups of older adults.

Abstract Phenotype plasticity and evolution adaptations are the two main ways in which allow populations to deal with environmental changes, but the potential relationship between them remains controversial. Using a reciprocal transplant approach with cattle adapted to the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent lowlands, we aim to investigate the relative contributions of evolutionary processes and phenotypic plasticity in driving both phenotypic and transcriptomic changes under natural conditions. We observed that while numerous genetic transcriptomic changes were evident during the forward adaptation to highland environments, plastic changes predominantly facilitate the transformation of transcriptomes into a preferred state when Tibetan cattle are reintroduced to lowland habitats. Genes with ancestral plasticity are generally reversed by evolutionary adaptations and show a closer expression level to the ancestral stage in evolved Tibetan cattle. A similar trend was also observed at the phenotypes level, with a majority of biochemical and hemorheology phenotypes showing a tendency to revert to their ancestral patterns, suggesting the restoration of ancestral expression levels is a widespread evolutionary trend during adaptation. The findings of our study contribute to the debate regarding the relative contributions of plasticity and genetic changes in mammal environment adaptation. Furthermore, we highlight that the restoration of ancestral phenotypes represents a general pattern in cattle new environment adaptation.

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEV) constitute nanoscale entities comprising lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and various components enveloped by the lipid bilayers of plant cells. These vesicles play a crucial role in facilitating substance and information transfer not only between plant cells but also across different species. Owing to its safety, stability, and the abundance of raw materials, this substance has found extensive utilization in recent years within research endeavors aimed at treating various diseases. This article provides an overview of the pathways and biological characteristics of PDEV, along with the prevalent methods employed for its isolation, purification, and storage. Furthermore, we comprehensively outline the therapeutic implications of diverse sources of PDEV in musculoskeletal system disorders. Additionally, we explore the utilization of PDEV as platforms for engineering drug carriers, aiming to delve deeper into the significance and potential contributions of PDEV in the realm of the musculoskeletal system.

Accurate real-time prediction of link quality is crucial for enhancing the reliable responsiveness of wearable devices within Wireless Wearable Sensor Networks (WWSNs). Specifically, the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), a pivotal parameter for predicting link quality, exhibits complex temporal characteristics influenced by stochastic and non-stochastic factors. To improve the accuracy of link quality prediction in WWSNs, we aim to explore a novel predictive model, introducing a filtering layer that seeks to enhance the precision of predicting upper and lower boundaries of link reliability confidence intervals. First, we adopt the SNR time series as the evaluation metric and decompose the SNR sequences into time-varying and stochastic standard deviation sequences by wavelet decomposition. Subsequently, we propose an innovative SCNN-LSTM model, incorporating the SincNet filtering layer to extract specific frequency components from the input SNR sequences. Afterward, integrating standard deviation sequences, the model predicts upper and lower boundaries of link reliability confidence intervals. Finally, we conduct the validation experiments on the public dataset LightGBM-LQP and our WWSN dataset Basketball shot. Compared to BPNN, ARIMA, and WNN, the evaluation matrices of MAE, RMSE, R2 in SCNN-LSTM have been improved, and the deviation between the predicted standard deviation and the actual standard deviation has reached the minimum of 0.1. The results demonstrate that SCNN-LSTM outperforms classical prediction models in predicting upper and lower limits of link reliability confidence intervals in WWSNs.

C-arm computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) achieves intraoperative visualization, which allows for an intuitive display of the morphology and positional relationship between the balloon and the cranial base osseous structures. By promptly diagnosing variations or abnormalities in the cranial base structures and adjusting surgical strategies in a timely manner during the operation, precision treatment can be achieved. We report a rare case of diagnosing dural calcification in the cranial base during C-arm CT-guided PBC for trigeminal neuralgia.

Background and aims: Normal serum transaminases and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels are surrogate markers for hepatic histologic disease activity in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). This study aimed to evaluate liver inflammation in patients with AIH with normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and IgG levels. Methods: Two hundred and five AIH patients who underwent liver biopsy in four medical centers were included. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with advanced inflammation. Results: One hundred and thirty-one (63.9 %) AIH patients had advanced liver inflammation, and 108 (52.7 %) patients had advanced liver fibrosis. 60.0 % of patients with normal ALT and 51.7 % of patients with normal ALT and IgG had advanced inflammation. However, 76.7 % and 35.0 % of patients with or without advanced fibrosis with normal ALT had advanced inflammation, while the corresponding proportions of advanced inflammation were 78.6 % and 26.7 % in patients with normal ALT and IgG, respectively. Moreover, 81.0 % and 44.8 % of patients with and without cirrhosis with normal ALT had advanced inflammation, while the corresponding proportions were 83.3 % and 29.4 % in patients with normal ALT and IgG, respectively. Red cell distribution width (OR = 1.325, 95%CI 1.045–1.681, P = 0.020) and PT (OR = 1.514, 95%CI 1.138–2.014, P = 0.004) were independent factors associated with advanced inflammation. Conclusions: High proportion of advanced inflammation was found in AIH patients with normal ALT and IgG levels despite without advanced fibrosis. Although using non-invasive methods may contribute to rule out liver fibrosis in AIH patients with normal ALT and IgG levels, liver biopsy is encouraged to assess liver inflammation.

Using radiosonde and ground mapping data from conventional observations， FNL analysis data （1°×1°） and quality controlled hourly precipitation data of Yunnan regional automatic station， diagnosed the function of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau’s eastern slope topography in the PLV （plateau vortex） affected precipitation in Yunnan during 2-3 July 2017.While the latest WRFv4.0 numerical model is used to conduct the topographic sensitivity test of this process.The results show that PLV which generated in the Yajiang region of Sichuan province （NO.C1735） is an important system influenced on this heavy rainfall in Yunnan； This low-vortex system maintain warm core structure in the middle and high altitude during the process period， corresponding with remarkable alternately distribution of ascending and descending movements； Distribution of process accumulated rainfall present two obvious NW-SE rain belts parallel to the mountain trend and the precipitation on the rain belt have intensity interlaced fluctuation characteristics； The heavy rainfall mainly occurred within two periods： one from afternoon to evening and other at the first half of the night， and all located besides the terrain slope （the east and south slopes）， especially in areas with steep terrain， large slopes， and trumpet-shaped topography， and then propagates downstream alone with the PLV； The South Asian High， northwest divergent airflow， Western Pacific subtropical high and Yunnan-Myanmar high provides favorable upper flow field for the eastward movement and development of the PLV， besides the position of 500 hPa positive vorticity and 700 hPa water vapor flux convergence can well indicates the heavy rainfall area； There exist β-mesoscale gravity wave during the period of precipitation， which stimulated by the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau’s eastern slope， and propagate between 300~200 hPa； Non geostrophic equilibrium motion and vertical wind shear at high-altitude are beneficial to the occurrence and propagation of gravity wave； The gravity wave propagate downstream before the PLV and precipitation， its wave ridge corresponds to the upward motion and divergence center， whereas the wave trough corresponds to the descending motion and convergence center， the heavy precipitation and the wave ridge are all located at the southwest side of PLV， the area of strong convergence and upward movement； After reduced the terrain height， its mechanical blocking and lifting effect weakened， the gravity wave and PLV disappears， leading to significant changes in the intensity and spatial distribution of the rain belt； Thus， the topography of the eastern slope of the Plateau plays important role both on the formation and development of PLV and precipitation in Yunnan under the influence of PLV.

Discontinuous perfobond rib shear (PBL) connectors can be applied to fabricated steel-concrete composite beams. In this paper, six push-out specimens were designed to explore the shear performance of PBL under static and repeated loads. Four specimens were used for static push-out test. The remaining two were used for fatigue push-out test. The static load test mainly considers the influence of concrete at steel plate end and post-cast strip on the shear bearing capacity, initial shear stiffness and load-slip curve of discontinuous PBL shear connectors. On the basis of the test results, the calculating formulas of the shear capacity and shear stiffness of discontinuous PBL connectors considering the influence of end bearing, bond group effect and post-cast strip are proposed. The predicted results of the formula are close to the experiment. From the fatigue test results, it is found that the fatigue performance of above specimens with C50 and UHPC is better than that with studs, but the fatigue resistance of discontinuous PBL connectors with UHPC is not increased in proportion to the shear capacity. In addition, the residual slip and shear stiffness of PBL specimens after cyclic loading are related to fatigue load amplitude.

In the global precipitation measurement (GPM) era, the integrated multisatellite retrievals for GPM (IMERG) stands as a pivotal precipitation algorithm. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of IMERG in capturing precipitation frequency and volume in the Yellow River Basin, China. Four satellite-based precipitation estimates (SPEs) from three algorithmic versions of IMERG were analyzed on an hourly scale using gauge observations. An improved error component procedure was employed to identify error sources. Results showed that all four IMERG products effectively captured the spatial distribution patterns and seasonal changes of precipitation, IMERG_F demonstrated the best overall performance, followed by IMERG_L, while IMERG_E performed the worst. However, they tended to overestimate precipitation. IMERG_F_Cal performed the best for precipitation frequency detection, with the highest probability of detection (POD = 52.7%) and the lowest missed events (MIS = 47.3%). Error component analysis highlights false bias as the main source of error, followed by missed bias. In winter, missed bias was the primary error source. Notably, a significant overestimation of precipitation was observed along the Yellow River. In detail, false bias dominated IMERG_E, IMERG_L, and IMERG_F_UnCal below 800 m in spring, summer, and autumn. However, in winter, missed bias became the primary error source for these three products at elevations above 200m and for IMERG_F_Cal above 500 m. IMERG_F_Cal exhibited false bias as the primary error source in all seasons. Suggested algorithm developers focus on improving IMERG SPEs' identification capabilities for light precipitation events and rainstorms. Findings can provide a reference for improving the IMERG product algorithms and enhancing users’ understanding of the error characteristics and sources of IMERG products.

Abstract Anomaly detection is a highly important task in the field of data analysis. Traditional anomaly detection approaches often strongly depend on data size, structure and features, while introducing the idea of ensemble into anomaly detection can greatly improve the generalization ability. Ensemble-based anomaly detection methods still face some challenges, however, such as data imbalance, time and space demand and the selection of base detectors. To this end, we propose a selective ensemble method for anomaly detection based on parallel learning (SEAD-PL). First, a differentiated stratified sampling method is designed to alleviate the problem of data imbalance. Then, a distributed parallel training frame is built to address the problem of excessive time and space consumption for base detector training. Finally, a clustering-based ensemble selection strategy is introduced to balance the accuracy and diversity of base detectors. Experiments are performed on six datasets, which demonstrate that the proposed method has obvious advantages over four selected methods.

Abstract An exposure–response (E–R) safety analysis was conducted across adult and pediatric (

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias is multifaceted, encompassing genetic, environmental, hemodynamic, and various causative factors. Emerging evidence underscores a plausible connection between gut flora, serum metabolites, and specific types of arrhythmias. Recognizing the role of host genetics in shaping the microbiota, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to investigate potential causal associations between gut flora, serum metabolites, and distinct arrhythmias. Methods Mendelian randomization methods were deployed to ascertain causal relationships between 211 gut flora, 575 serum metabolites, and various types of arrhythmias. To ensure the reliability of the findings, five complementary Mendelian randomization methods, including inverse variance weighting methods, were employed. The robustness of the results was scrutinized through a battery of sensitivity analyses, incorporating the Cochran Q test, leave-one-out test, and MR-Egger intercept analysis. Results Eighteen gut flora and twenty-six serum metabolites demonstrated associations with the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Moreover, ten gut flora and fifty-two serum metabolites were linked to the risk of developing supraventricular tachycardia, while eight gut flora and twenty-five serum metabolites were associated with the risk of developing tachycardia. Additionally, six gut flora and twenty-one serum metabolites exhibited associations with the risk of developing bradycardia. Conclusion This study revealed the potential causal relationship that may exist between gut flora, serum metabolites and different cardiac arrhythmias and highlights the need for further exploration. This study provides new perspectives to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the field of cardiac arrhythmias.

Zinc (Zn)-based alloys are considered the next-generation biodegradable material for promising bone-implant devices due to their good degradability, formability, and functionality. Nevertheless, the as-cast Zn alloys showed a low strength-toughness, making it challenging to meet the mechanical properties requirements for high-load-bearing bone implants due to their hexagonal close-packed structure, coarse grain size, and less sliding system. Herein, we have developed biodegradable Zn–5Ce alloys by cerium (Ce) alloying followed by hot-rolling, hot-extrusion, and high-pressure torsion (HPT), respectively, for potential bone-implant application. Mechanical testing revealed that the HPT sample exhibited the best mechanical performance matching among the Zn–5Ce samples with a high ultimate tensile strength of ∼345 MPa, yield strength of ∼230 MPa, a moderate elongation of ∼11.4%, and macro-hardness of ∼96.6 HB. Electrochemical corrosion and static immersion testing revealed that the HPT sample showed the highest electrochemical corrosion rate of ∼416 μm/y and degradation rate of ∼43.8 μm/y in Hanks' solution among the Zn–5Ce samples, which is suitable for degradation rate requirements for bone-implant application. Bio-tribological testing revealed that the HPT sample showed high bio-tribological properties matching in Hanks’ solution with the lowest friction coefficients of ∼0.530 and moderate wear loss of ∼2.2 mg. Cytocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation assessment revealed that the diluted extract of the HPT sample showed the highest cytocompatibility towards 3T3 and MG-63 cells and osteogenic differentiation performance towards 3T3 cells among the most diluted extracts. Accordingly, the HPT Zn–5Ce sample is expected to be used for high-load-bearing degradable bone-implant devices, including bone fixation and guided bone regeneration systems.

Abstract Background With the alterations of the Chinese epidemic prevention policy, China experienced a nationwide wave of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from December 2022 to January 2023.The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic extends beyond individual perceptions of the meaning of life and attitudes toward life and death; it also affects the professional identity of nursing students.This study explored nursing students’ professional identity and life meaning of affected by the pandemic. Methods An online survey was conducted using the Chinese version of the Nursing Student Career Identity Scale and the Chinese version of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire to assess the current status of nursing students’ professional identity and sense of life meaning. Data were also collected on participant gender, education, clinical practice experience, and COVID-19 infection. Results The scores for nursing students’ sense of professional identity (61.58 ± 16.16) and sense of life meaning (45.29 ± 12.65) were both at an intermediate level. Compared to the scores before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese nursing students’ professional identity scores increased, while their sense of life meaning scores decreased. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between professional identity and sense of life meaning (p

Abstract The spread of many infectious diseases relies on aerosol transmission to the respiratory tract. Here we design an intranasal mask comprising a positively-charged thermosensitive hydrogel and cell-derived micro-sized vesicles with a specific viral receptor. We show that the positively charged hydrogel intercepts negatively charged viral aerosols, while the viral receptor on vesicles mediates the entrapment of viruses for inactivation. We demonstrate that when displaying matched viral receptors, the intranasal masks protect the nasal cavity and lung of mice from either severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or influenza A virus. With computerized tomography images of human nasal cavity, we further conduct computational fluid dynamics simulation and three-dimensional printing of an anatomically accurate human nasal cavity, which is connected to human lung organoids to generate a human respiratory tract model. Both simulative and experimental results support the suitability of intranasal masks in humans, as the likelihood of viral respiratory infections induced by different variant strains is dramatically reduced.

Abstract Excessive fibrogenic response in the liver disrupts normal hepatic anatomy and function heralding such end-stage liver diseases as hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. Myofibroblasts, derived primarily from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), are the effector of liver fibrosis. In the present study we investigated the mechanism by which Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1, encoded by Smarca4) regulates HSC-myofibroblast transition and the implication in intervention against liver fibrosis. We report that BRG1 expression was elevated during HSC maturation in cell culture, in animal models, and in human cirrhotic liver biopsy specimens. HSC-specific deletion of BRG1 attenuated liver fibrosis in several different animal models. In addition, BRG1 ablation in myofibroblasts ameliorated liver fibrosis. RNA-seq identified IGFBP5 as a novel target for BRG1. Over-expression of IGFBP5 partially rescued the deficiency in myofibroblast activation when BRG1 was depleted. On the contrary, IGFBP5 knockdown suppressed HSC-myofibroblast transition in vitro and mollified liver fibrosis in mice. Mechanistically, IGFBP5 interacted with Bat3 to stabilize the Bat3-TβR complex and sustain TGF-β signaling. In conclusion, our data provide compelling evidence that BRG1 is a pivotal regulator of liver fibrosis by programming HSC-myofibroblast transition.

Abstract Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Basement membranes (BMs) are ubiquitous extracellular matrices which are affected in many diseases including DKD. Here, the authors aimed to identify BM‐related markers in DKD and explored the immune cell infiltration in this process. The expression profiles of three datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. BM‐related differentially expression genes (DEGs) were identified and Kyoto encyclopaedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis were applied to biological functions. Immune cell infiltration and immune function in the kidneys of patients with DKD and healthy controls were evaluated and compared using the ssGSEA algorithm. The association of hub genes and immune cells and immune function were explored. A total of 30 BM‐related DEGs were identified. The functional analysis showed that BM‐related DEGs were notably associated with basement membrane alterations. Crucially, BM‐related hub genes in DKD were finally identified, which were able to distinguish patients with DKD from controls. Moreover, the authors observed that laminin subunit gamma 1(LAMC1) expression was significantly high in HK2 cells treated with high glucose. Immunohistochemistry results showed that, compared with those in db/m mouse kidneys, the levels of LAMC1 in db/db mouse kidneys were significantly increased. The biomarkers genes may prove crucial for DKD treatment as they could be targeted in future DKD treatment protocols.

Organic phototransistors, renowned for their exceptional biocompatibility, hold promise in phototherapy for tracking the efficacy of photosensitive drugs within treatment areas. Nevertheless, it has been found that organic semiconductors are less effective in detecting ultraviolet (UV) light because of their narrow bandgap. Here, we show that UV photodetection in phototransistors using donor-acceptor (D-A) polymer semiconductors can be significantly enhanced by incorporating PCBM nanocrystals. This integration results in a band mismatch between the nanocrystals and the D-A polymer at the interface. These nanocrystals also demonstrate a notable capability of modulating threshold voltage under UV light. The devices incorporating nanocrystals exhibit a photoresponsivity of 0.16 A/W, surpassing the photoresponsivity of the devices without nanocrystals by 50%. The specific detection rate of devices with nanocrystals is around 2.00 × 1010 Jones, which is twice as high as that of devices without nanocrystals. The presented findings offer a potential avenue to improve the efficiency of polymer phototransistors for UV detection.

A photovoltaic thermal panel (PV/T) is an integrated module that harnesses both photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies to convert solar energy into electricity and heat, thereby enhancing overall energy efficiency. This paper aims to explore the suitability of PV/T solar heat pump systems across various climate zones and assess their potential for widespread application. By analyzing the operating principles of an indirect expansion PV/T solar heat pump system in conjunction with the climate characteristics of different regions, MATLAB R2019b/Simulink software was employed to evaluate the photoelectric performance of PV and PV/T systems in representative cities across five distinct climate zones in China during typical winter days. Key metrics, such as power generation, hot water storage tank temperature, indoor temperature, and system COP, were chosen to assess the heating performance of the PV/T solar heat pump system. The findings indicate that the winter ambient temperature significantly affects the photoelectric efficiency of both the PV and PV/T systems. While higher latitudes with lower ambient temperatures yield greater photoelectric efficiency, the southern regions exhibit higher power generation during winter. The winter heating effectiveness of the PV/T solar heat pump system is mainly influenced by indoor and water tank temperatures, with Harbin’s system performing the poorest and failing to meet heating demands, whereas Nanjing’s system shows the best results.

Extraction of lipids and high-value products from highly wet microalgae requires significant energy for the drying pretreatment. In this study, we examined the direct extraction of lipids, β-carotene, and polyphenolic compounds from wet Dunaliella salina using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME), which is effective in lipid extraction for biofuel production. The amount of DME-extracted β-carotene was 7.0 mg/g, which was higher than that obtained from the chloroform–methanol extraction. Moreover, the total phenolic content extracted with DME and its antioxidant capacity were slightly higher than those extracted with chloroform–methanol. DME removed almost all the water and extracted 29.2 wt% of total lipids and 9.7 wt% of fatty acids. More lipids were extracted from wet samples by liquefied DME than by chloroform–methanol extraction. The C/N ratio of lipids extracted with DME was 112.0, higher than that of chloroform–methanol. The high C/N ratio suggests that nitrogen-containing phosphatidylcholines may be less easily extracted by liquefied DME and may be highly selective. However, the ratio of saturated fatty acids was 34.8%, lower than that of chloroform–methanol. Na+ and Mg2+ in the culture medium were not extracted using DME. Thus, using the extract with DME has both advantages and disadvantages compared to using the extract with chloroform–methanol; however, it has satisfactory extraction properties. DME is expected to be an environment-friendly alternative solvent because it does not require drying, which is necessary for conventional extraction solvents.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are non-infectious and serve as promising vaccine platforms because they mimic the membrane-embedded conformations of fusion glycoproteins on native viruses. Here, we employed SARS-CoV-2 VLPs (SMEN) presenting ancestral, Beta, or Omicron spikes to identify the variant spike that elicits potent and cross-protective immune responses in the highly sensitive K18-hACE2 challenge mouse model. A combined intranasal and intramuscular SMEN vaccine regimen generated the most effective immune responses to significantly reduce disease burden. Protection was primarily mediated by antibodies, with minor but distinct contributions from T cells in reducing virus spread and inflammation. Immunization with SMEN carrying ancestral spike resulted in 100, 75, or 0% protection against ancestral, Delta, or Beta variant-induced mortality, respectively. However, SMEN with an Omicron spike provided only limited protection against ancestral (50%), Delta (0%), and Beta (25%) challenges. By contrast, SMEN with Beta spikes offered 100% protection against the variants used in this study. Thus, the Beta variant not only overcame the immunity produced by other variants, but the Beta spike also elicited diverse and effective humoral immune responses. Our findings suggest that leveraging the Beta variant spike protein can enhance SARS-CoV-2 immunity, potentially leading to a more comprehensive vaccine against emerging variants.

This study proposes to further exploit the potential of the carbon dioxide supercritical anti-solvent precipitation (SAS) process by using liquefied gas as a feed solvent in the SAS process. In this study, liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) is compared to conventional ethyl acetate as the feed solvent for β-carotene. DME is a gas in its standard state, and when it is made into a subcritical liquefied gas, it has a larger self-diffusion coefficient and saturated vapor pressure, and smaller viscosity and surface tension than liquid solvents. Because of these characteristics of liquefied DME, liquefied DME prevents primary particle agglomeration and DME residue. When ethyl acetate was used as the feed solvent, the conditions giving the smallest particles were 60 °C and 12 MPa, and 31 ± 5 nm primary particles of β-carotene were obtained. However, most of these were aggregated into secondary particles of several hundred nanometers. In the case of liquefied DME, the condition giving the smallest particles was 40 °C and 12 MPa, and primary particles of 58 ± 8 nm β-carotene were dispersed without aggregation. Furthermore, FT-IR analysis detected residual ethyl acetate in the aggregated β-carotene particles, whereas DME was not detected in the dispersed particles. Liquefied DME is likely to be a suitable solvent for the micronization of heat-sensitive substances using the SAS method without agglomeration. Combining various liquefied gases, not just DME, with the SAS process may create possibilities for applying the SAS process to target materials that are insoluble in conventional liquid solvents and for synthesizing even finer nanoparticles.

Silicon carbide ceramic membranes are known as a new generation of membrane products due to their excellent chemical stability and high flux advantages. This article, based on the PatSnap patent analysis, analyzes the global patents of silicon carbide ceramic membranes, preparation methods, devices and equipment, application-related patents, and applicants from perspectives of patent applications, patent layouts, and international patent classification technical categories. It concludes that the technological hotspots in the field of silicon carbide ceramic membranes are concentrated on improving separation efficiency through separation applications, providing a reference for the technical improvement, application, and patent layout of silicon carbide ceramic membranes.

Abstract Background and purpose As a crucial diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutation holds immense significance for personalized treatment of patients with glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, we developed a radiomics nomogram to determine the TERT promoter mutation status and assessed its prognostic efficacy in GBM patients. Methods The study retrospectively included 145 GBM patients. A comprehensive set of 3736 radiomics features was extracted from preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, including T2‐weighted imaging, T1‐weighted imaging (T1WI), contrast‐enhanced T1WI, and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery. The construction of the radiomics model was based on integrating the radiomics signature (rad‐score)with clinical features. Receiver‐operating characteristic curve analysis was employed to evaluate the discriminative ability of the prediction model, and the risk score was used to stratify patient outcomes. Results The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator classifier identified 10 robust features for constructing the prediction model, and the radiomics nomogram exhibited excellent performance in predicting TERT promoter mutation status, with area under the curve values of.906 (95% confidence interval [CI]:.850–.963) and.899 (95% CI:.708–.966) in the training and validation sets, respectively. The clinical utility of the radiomics nomogram is further supported by calibration curve and decision curve analyses. Additionally, the radiomics nomogram effectively stratified GBM patients with significantly different prognoses (HR = 1.767, p = .019). Conclusion The radiomics nomogram holds promise as a modality for evaluating TERT promoter mutations and prognostic outcomes in patients with GBM.

There are no standard treatment guidelines for hidradenocarcinoma, and the immune microenvironment and genomic data are very limited. Thus, in this study the immune microenvironment and genomic indicators in hidradenocarcinoma was investigated, and immunotherapy for hidradenocarcinoma was initially explored. Forty-seven hidradenocarcinoma patients were retrospectively collected. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to identify CD3/CD8+ T cells and programmed death ligand-1 expression. In total, 89.4% and 10.6% of samples had Immunoscores of 0–25% and 25–70%. Tumour proportion score distribution was as follows: tumour proportion score 5% in 10.6%. Combined positive score distribution was as follows: combined positive score 5 in 21.3%. Next-generation sequencing revealed that TP53 (33%), PI3KCA (22%), and ERBB3 (22%) were the most frequently mutated genes. The PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, growth, and MAPK signalling pathways were significantly enriched. Five patients had a low TMB (

With the development of biological control methods, the predatory ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been widely used for pest control in agricultural production. Appropriate shelf-life management strategies could synchronize H. axyridis production with pest outbreaks, finally improving the effectiveness of biological control. Herein, we preliminarily explored whether an artificial diet could optimize the shelf-life management of H. axyridis. We compared the survival rate, nutrition accumulation, reproductive development, juvenile hormone (JH) related-gene expression levels, and stress resistance gene expression levels between aphid-fed and artificial diet-fed H. axyridis females. The results revealed that H. axyridis females maintained a high survival rate after being fed an artificial diet for 60 days, whereas the survival rate of aphid-fed females decreased. Continuous feeding of the artificial diet caused H. axyridis females to enter a diapause-like state, which was characterized by low JH levels, high triglycerides and trehalose accumulation, ovarian development inhibition, decreased Vgs expression levels, and increased stress resistance gene expression levels. This diapause-like state could be promptly recovered upon transferring to an aphid diet. These results indicate that the artificial diet could manipulate the reproductive development status of H. axyridis and lay the foundation for its shelf-life management.

BackgroundMotor impairment is the most prevalent consequence following a stroke. Interhemispheric homotopic connectivity, which varies regionally and hierarchically along the axis of the somatomotor-association cortex, plays a critical role in sustaining normal motor functions. However, the impact of strokes occurring in various locations on homotopic connectivity is not fully understood. This study aimed to explore how motor deficits resulting from acute strokes in different locations influence homotopic connectivity.MethodsEighty-four acute ischemic stroke patients with dyskinesia were recruited and divided into four demographically-matched subgroups based on stroke locations: Group 1 (G1; frontoparietal, n = 15), Group 2 (G2; radiation coronal, n = 16), Group 3 (G3; basal ganglia, n = 30), and Group 4 (G4; brain stem, n = 23). An additional 37 demographically-matched healthy controls were also recruited in the study. Multimodal MRI data, motor function assessments, and cognitive tests were gathered for analysis. Interhemispheric homotopic functional and structural connectivity were measured using resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging, respectively. These measurements were then correlated with motor function scores to investigate the relationships.ResultsVoxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) analysis showed that strokes in the frontoparietal and basal ganglia regions led to diminished homotopic connectivity in the somatosensory/motor cortex. In contrast, strokes in the radiation coronal and brainstem regions affected subcortical motor circuits. Structural homotopic connectivity analysis using diffusion tensor imaging showed that frontoparietal and basal ganglia strokes predominantly affected association fibers, while radiation coronal and brainstem strokes caused widespread disruption in the integrity of both cortical-cortical and cortical-subcortical white matter fibers. Correlation analyses demonstrated significant associations between the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores with the VMHC in the inferior temporal gyrus for G1 (G1; r = 0.838, p < 0.001; r = 0.793, p < 0.001; and r = −0.834, p < 0.001, respectively). No statistically significant associations were observed in Groups 2, 3, and 4.ConclusionOur results suggest that motor deficits following strokes in various regions involve distinct pathways from cortical to subcortical areas. Alterations in lesion topography and regional functional homotopy provide new insights into the understanding of neural underpinnings of post-stroke dyskinesia.

AbstractCitrus melanose, caused by Diaporthe citri, is one of the most economically significant fungal diseases in China. Given that the application of fungicides is the main technique used for the control of citrus melanose, many studies have focused on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the use of fungicides for the control of this economically significant disease. Here, we developed a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) protocol for monitoring citrus melanose via detection of suspected infected leaves and airborne conidia of D. citri. A primer pair and TaqMan probe targeting D. citri were designed to amplify a region of the fungal β-tubulin gene. The limits of detection and quantification of our TaqMan qPCR method were 159.57 and 683 copies/μL, respectively. The method detected the DNA equivalent to 47 conidia when fungal conidia were cultured in vitro. To evaluate the feasibility of our TaqMan qPCR method, symptomatic and asymptomatic leaf samples, airborne conidia samples were collected from a citrus orchard and tea garden, respectively. D. citri was detected in leaves with citrus melanose symptoms in an orchard; airborne fungal conidia of D. citri were also detected. These findings suggested that this novel TaqMan qPCR method could be used to detect D. citri both in vivo and in vitro. Our methodology could be applied as an alternative method for monitoring the changes in the incidence of D. citri in orchards.

Plastic fragments are widely found in the soil profile of terrestrial ecosystems, forming plastic footprint and posing increasing threat to soil functionality and carbon (C) footprint. It is unclear how plastic footprint affects C cycling, and in particularly permanent C sequestration. Integrated field observations (including 13C labelling) were made using polyethylene and polylactic acid plastic fragments (low-, medium- and high-concentrations as intensifying footprint) landfilling in soil, to track C flow along soil–plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC). The result indicated that increased plastic fragments substantially reduced photosynthetic C assimilation (p 0.05). Particularly, soil aggregate stability was significantly lowered as affected by plastic fragments, which accelerated the decomposition rate of newly sequestered C (p